Adjustable hatband



July 27, 19.48 F. osToLAzA ETAL. 2,445,922

ADJUSTABLE HAT `BAND` Filed Aug. 29, 1946 I. ...In

flu/f /Nl/EA/TOR FRANK OsToLAzA FIG8- GLENN E. HOLMES Patented July 27, 1948 ADJUSTABLE HATBAND.

Frank Ostolaza, Florissant, and Glenn Ellery Holmes, St. Louis,- Mo., assignors to Mexican American Hat Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporationof Missourir Application August 29, 1946, Serial No. 693,724

2 Claims.

l This invention relatesto improvements in hat bands suitable foriiexible crown straw hatsand the like, and has particular reference to an improved hat bandV structure embodying novel means affording ready adjustments of the band as to its perimetral extent about the lower part or base zone of the hat crown, such as to effect thereby a greater or lesser contraction of the hat crown at its basewhereby the hat may be adapted :to various head sizes.

The principal `object of the invention is to provide inconnection with a hat band surrounding thelowerpart or base portion of a hat` crown of flexible character, lof novel andwhighly eiective connector means embodied in the terminal ends of the band,` readily capable of Iselective connection of the [band endsl to afford adjustments of the1 effectiveI perimetral extent of the band for determining thereby a greater or lesser contraction of the lower or base part of the hat, whereby to adapt the hat to different head sizes.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hat band structure of the character aforesaid, arranged in encircling position on the base portion of the hat crown, and holding means therefor constrainingthebandto such `position in any adjustment of the perimetral extent of the band,

yetpermitting band adjustments to be made while the band is in place on the hat.

Other objects andl advantages of the present improvements will appear readily from the followingidescription thereof and the accompanyl ing dra-wing.` wherein:

Fig. ,1 is a perspective `View. ofl a `hat showing thereonthe presently improved hat band structure;A

Fig. 2 is `an enlarged. fragmentary view in `sec-` tion as taken from line 2-2 in Fig. 1, illustrating the hat band holding means;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in perspective, of the band structure showing a presently preferred form of band connector means;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse section through a part of the preferred connector mea-ns, as taken from line 4 4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an on-edge view of the band structure in its terminal end portion, taken from line 5 5 in Fig. 1, showing the preferred connector means applied in assembly connection of the band ends;

Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form of connector means for the band ends;

Fis. 7 shows a further modification in the connector means, and

aoover and rearwardly upon the band section 23 Fig. 8 illustrates yet another form of connector means.

Referring to the drawing and first to the preferred embodiment of the invention as such is l illustratedby Figs. 1 to 5, the numeral I0 designates generally a hat formed of straw or other suitable exible materialandhaving a brim Il and a crown Iii, wherein the crown is capable of limited fiexure to permit contraction of its -lower part or base portion I4 in respect to its circumferential extent, such as to adapt the hat to different head sizes. externally about the crown base portion I4, is a hat band I5 of suitable flexible material having 'iopposed terminal end portions I6 and I8. Rel leasable and adjustable assembly connection of the band ends is eected by connector means of a presently preferred `character now to be described.

As shown clearly by Figs.` 3 and 4, a relatively thin strip I9 of a semi-rigid yet readily bendable material 'such as a suitable soft metal, is provided in a predeterminedlength` suitable to the present purpose, and of a `width appreciably less than the width `of the band I5. The strip It is arranged longitudinally and centrally on one side face of the band section 2li rearwardly from the terminal end section 22 of the band end I6, and the latter band end section is thence folded to overlie the strip I 9. The band sec-tions 2u and 22 are secured together and preferably also, to the strip i9, as by a suitable cement or adhesive indicated at 23rin Fig. 4, the strip I9 thereby being completely covered or sheathed in the lapped band sections. As so constructed, the band end I6 constitutes one member of the connector means.

The opposed end I3 of the band supports a ring element 24 preferably of metal, the support thereof being attained by passing the band end i8 through the ring and folding back upon itself, the lapped portions 26 and 2l of the band end then being secured together by stapling, stitzciing, or one or more eyelet rivets as shown at In band assembly, the connector end I6 of the band is passed through the ring 24 and thence pulled relative to the band end I8 such as to seat the band firmly about and against the crown base I4, whereupon the connector end i6 is bent back substantially upon itself as appears in Fig. 5. The metal strip I9 embodied in the end I6, readily permits such bending and yet being semi-rigid, will effectively retain the Arran-ged on the hat` fold-bend indicated, and hence the connection of the band ends, against the tensional stressing of the band normally encountered in hat application to and its wear on the head of a wearer. In the event a different or smaller head size is desired, the bent end I6 may be straightened out or substantially so, and thence pulled to a further extent through the ring 24 'such as to decrease the effective perimetral extent of the band, thereby producing a corresponding contraction of the crown base I4, until the desired crown size is attained. lite-bending of the end i6 over ring 2:1 and upon itself, again elects assembly connection of the band ends.

To facilitate band adjustment als above described, as well as to afford retention of the band against displacement or slippage in the direction of the crown top 35, the band is fixed or anchored to the crown base as by stitching 3i (Fig. l) or other means in the portion 32= of the hand relatively near its end I8, and by a holding element 34 effective on the band in the Zone thereof substantially diametrically opposite thezone of stitching 3l. The holding element 34 preferably comprises a strip of stiff transparent material such as Celluloid or the like, secured to the hat crown by stitching 35 (Fig. 2) along the upper longitudinal margin 36 of the strip, and extending downwardly in overlapping relation to the band. Importantly to the present invention., itis to be observed that the holdini-.r element 34 while preventing upward slippage of the hat band, readily permits displacement of the band relative to the element, in the direction of the perimetral axis of the band.

A modification of the band connector means hereinabove described, is illustrated by Fig. 6. As there shown, the band end 40 is constructed in accordance with the metallic strip insert construction of the band end I6 of Fig. 3, while the the end 45. The loop 42 is formed by turning the band end back upon itself and securing the lapped portions together by suitable means, such as the staples 44. The loop thus is an integral part of the band end 4|, taking the place of the separate ring element 24 in the embodiment of Fig. 3.

The further modified band connector arrangement according to Fig. 7, presents band connector ends 45 and 46 which as shown, are identical with the respective .band ends 40 and 4i of Fig. 6, and includes as an additional element, a ring 48 encircling the band rearwardly of its end 45 and suitably secured thereto. Ring 48 provides an anchorage for the otherwise free portion 49 of the end 45, this portion being inserted through the ring and thence bent over as shown.

v opposed band end 4l provides a loop 42 to receive Fig. 8 illustrates yet another modification of the hat band structure. In this embodiment, each of the band end portions 50 and 52 preferably is of two-ply form, with a semi-rigid, bendable metal strip 53 sheathed therein. The parts are secured in assembly by cement or an adhesive, so that a transverse section of the band end will `appear as in Fig, 4 for example. In band connection, the opposed ends 55 and 52' thereof are simply looped over each other, as shown, the connection thus effected being self-retaining by reason of the semi-rigid character of the metal strips 53. If desired although not here shown, the entire length of the band may be of a two-ply characten'while the metal strips 53 may be combined in a sigle strip substantially coextensive with the band length.

Having now described the invention in respect to a presently preferred embodiment thereof and to certain modied forms of the same, we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent the following:

1. In a hat having a brim and crown, a flexible hat band surrounding the lower part of the crown and providing opposed end portions, ay semi-rigid bendable metal strip, one of said band end portions being lapped over said strip With the strip and lapped portions of the band end secured together, and a loop provided on the other band end portion, through which the first said band end portion including said metal strip, is projected and looped thereover in band assembly.

2. In a hat having a .brim and a crown, a flexible divided hat band surrounding the lower part of the crown, a semi-rigid bendable metal strip along one end of the band, said end of the band being lapped over upon itself to enclose said strip,

means securing the strip and lapped .end `of the band in assembly, and a ring element carried by the other end of the band, through which the rst said band end and the metal strip therein is projected and bent rearwardly thereover in band assembly.

FRANK OSTOLAZA. GLENN ELLERY HOLMES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 

